Nikki has been a nursery cook for almost 10 years, 8 of those at Little Scholars. Nikki has a level 2 diploma in food production and cooking and enjoys cooking the children fresh, tasty, nutritious meals. She understands the importance of food hygiene in an around the kitchen, hence continuously maintaining the 5 star hygiene rating given by the food standards agency. At home, Nikki and her husband have 2 teenage children and their dog, Freddie. In her spare time, Nikki enjoys socialising with friends and is also a keen cake decorator, making cakes for family and friends for special occasions.
Here at Little Scholars we are fully committed to a healthy eating policy, providing warm fresh cooked food to all our children. All menus are carefully planned and prepared each day on the premises by our experienced chef, using only the highest quality fresh ingredients. Children are provided with three meals plus a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack. Fresh water is available throughout the day, which they are always encouraged to drink.
" It is especially important in the first three years to help little ones to eat well and encourage them to enjoy a variety of foods, as the foods they enjoy now will help to shape their food preferences and eating patterns in the future . Improving child nutrition in the UK not only enhances the health of an individual child and the wellbeing of families, but it can also have a huge impact on a country’s education attainment and lower the risk of disease"
We believe in educating children about food to encourage them to make healthy choices for themselves in a variety of ways such as gardening. We introduce children to eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables which they grow themselves in our outdoor grow patch. A well structured eating plan, with regular meals and snacks are important to establish a good eating habit. “We endeavor to make mealtimes fun and an opportunity to learn. The children are supported with eating where necessary, yet given full encouragement to be independent" Clare Tibbert (Manager)
We use guidance from the Caroline Walker Trust to design menus that are nutritious and balanced and correctly portioned for the children’s ages. Our cook takes pride in preparing the meals fresh every day ready for the children to enjoy. We have found that children will often explore foods at nursery that they may not at home. Therefore our menus are varied and contain dishes that you would not normally find on a children’s menu using ingredients that are fresh, low in salt and sugar and restricted in colorants.
Week 1
Monday Snack Am: Malt Loaf Lunch: Chicken Curry Pudding: Fruit Fool Snack Pm: Bread sticks, dips and cherry tomatoes Tea: Jacket potatoes, cheese, carrots and cucumber
Tuesday Snack Am: Popcorn and fruit Lunch: Quiche, mashed potato, beans and broccoli Pudding: Bananas and custard Snack Pm: Pitta bread, tzatziki and fruit Tea: Bread roll, mozzarella cheese, humus, cucumber and carrot sticks
Wednesday Snack Am: Pancakes and fruit Lunch: Chicken, potatoes, mixed vegetables and gravy Pudding: Jelly and mandarin oranges Snack Pm: Crackers, cheese spread and cucumber Tea: Tuna or cheese pasta
Thursday Snack Am: Cracker bread, cottage cheese and cucumber Lunch: Fish pie, sweetcorn and carrots Pudding: Fresh fruit salad Snack Pm: Yoghurt and fruit Tea: egg mayonnaise or cheese spread sandwich
Friday Snack Am: Breadstick, dips and cucumber Lunch: Lasagne and garlic bread Pudding: Semolina and chopped dates Snack Pm: Popcorn and fruit Tea: Pilchards and cheese on toast
Week 2
Monday Snack Am: Crackers, cheese spread and pineapple Lunch: Fish curry and rice Pudding: Crunchy peach bake Snack Pm: Yoghurt and fruit Tea: Potato wedges, mozzarella cheese and oranges
Tuesday Snack Am: Malt Loaf Lunch: Moussaka and Greek salad Pudding: Rice Pudding Snack Pm: Crispbread, dips and cherry tomatoes Tea: Jacket potatoes, cheese, carrot and cucumber
Wednesday Snack Am: Bread rolls, cheese spread and carrot stick Lunch: Cottage Pie and Vegetables Pudding: Bread and butter pudding Snack Pm: Popcorn and fruit Tea: Chicken strips, bread and butter and salad
Thursday Snack Am: Breadstick, humus and cucumber Lunch: Beef Casserole and Potatoes Pudding: Fruit crumble and custard Snack Pm; Tzatziki, pitta and fruit Tea: Tuna and cheese pasta with sweetcorn
Friday Snack Am: Toast, yoghurt and banana Lunch: Bigos and pasta Pudding: Carrot cake Snack Pm: Crackers, cottage cheese and fruit Tea: Egg Mayonnaise and Cheese sandwiches
Week 3
Monday Snack Am: Malt Loaf Lunch: Vegetable Bolognese with broccoli Pudding: Peach Fool Snack Pm: Breadstick, dips and cherry tomatoes Tea: Egg mayonnaise and cheese spread sandwiches
Tuesday Snack Am: Bread roll, cheese spread and carrot sticks Lunch: Cottage Pie, peas and broccoli Pudding: Semolina and chopped dates Snack Pm: Crispbread, cottage cheese and fruit Tea: Chicken, Bread and butter and salad
Wednesday Snack Am: Yoghurt and fruit Lunch: Fish pie, sweetcorn and Carrots Pudding: Fresh fruit salad Snack Pm: Crackers, cheese spread and cucumber sticks Tea: Jacket potatoes, cheese, onions and cucumber
Thursday Snack Am: Breadstick, dips and cucumber Lunch: Quiche, mashed potato, beans and broccoli Pudding: Chinese Fruit Salad Snack Pm: Popcorn and fruit Tea: Bread roll, humus, mozzarella, cucumber and carrots
Friday Snack Am: Pancakes and fruit Lunch: Chicken, roast potatoes, mixed vegetables and gravy Pudding: Jelly and mandarin oranges Snack Pm: Yoghurt and fruit Tea: Tuna or cheese pasta
Week 4
Monday Snack Am: Toast, Yoghurt and Fruit Lunch: Chilli, new potatoes and salad Pudding: Crunchy peach bake Snack Pm: Popcorn and fruit Tea: Bread Rolls, Mozzarella, carrot and cucumber
Tuesday Snack Am: Breadsticks, dip and pineapple Lunch: Lasagne and garlic bread Pudding: Blancmange Snack Pm: Malt Loaf Tea: Tuna and cheese pasta with sweetcorn
Wednesday Snack Am: Cheese and pineapple sandwiches Lunch: Sausage, mashed potatoes and beans Pudding: Carrot cake Snack Am: Yoghurt and fruit Tea: Egg Mayonnaise and cheese sandwiches
Thursday Snack Am: Popcorn and fruit Lunch: Moussaka and Greek salad Pudding: Rice Pudding Snack Pm: crisp bread, humus and cherry tomatoes Tea: Jacket potatoes, cheese, cucumber and carrots
Friday Snack Am: Pitta Bread, tzatziki and fruit Lunch: Fish curry and rice Pudding: Bread and butter pudding Snack Pm: Crackers, cheese spread and cucumber sticks Tea: potato wedges, mozzarella and oranges
